[LINK] Fwd: MR 41/2009

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Tony forwards,

> > ACMA’s 2009 update of developments in technology, 'Trends in 
> > Communications and Media Technology, Applications and Use' has 
> > identified five key developments that are placing pressure on media 
> > and communications regulation.
> > http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311692

Thanks Tony. There are many interesting points within. For example:


The main driver for internet traffic growth internationally is forecast 
to be online video (page 13)


ACMA’s analysis of .. the telecommunications sector in 2007–08 shows that 
Australian internet users increased the volume of data downloaded per 
subscriber by 37 per cent .. from 21.1 GBs in 2006–07 .. to 29.9 GBs in 
2007–08 (page 14)


. possible emergence of an IPv4 address market may stall (IPv6) uptake 
(page 16) (SL, i have long thought this .. one can well imagine on-line 
auctions of addresses, with a *largish* cut of the final auction figure 
going to the auctioneers, would be *very* attractive to the auctioneers)



Broadband access, core and backhaul networks in Australia are improving 
in performance due to the progressive migration from an underlying range 
of transmission protocols to a native IP over ethernet protocol. Native 
IP over ethernet in access networks is commonly referred to as metro 
ethernet (page 16)


The majority of Australia’s broadband internet traffic flows via the US. 
(page 17)


SMART NETWORKS: Using technical specifications developed by the IPsphere 
Forum,  the trialling of networks capable of delivering IP services end-
to-end across network boundaries at agreed quality of service levels is 
underway in Australia and Europe.  The specifications enable multiple 
parties involved in content and carriage to deliver services to users at 
agreed quality of service levels with commercial arrangements in place to 
cover relevant charges. (page 19)


Deep packet inspection (DPI) technology provides ISPs with the capacity 
to monitor user web traffic in real time. DPI lies behind the next stage 
in the development of behavioural-targeting software that may be used to 
build up profiles of user interests to target advertisements more 
accurately. ISPs face commercial pressures to upgrade their 
infrastructure in response to their customers’ increasing use of 
bandwidth intensive applications. Incentives to monetise user information 
are coming from advertisers and holders of copyright. (page 25)


In one example, a number of ISPs disconnected hosting a server because it 
continued to allow malware to be distributed. The Australian Government 
is seeking to address the growth in the risks and threats from the growth 
in computing and mobile device applications through the development of an 
e-security framework.  (page 30)


There is evidence to show that Australian blog readership is following 
international trends. A Nielsen online survey of consumer-generated media 
reported that 62 per cent of active Australian internet users read blogs. 
(page 36)


Social networking sites reduce the difficulty of group action through the 
comparative ease of maintaining connections between group participants. 
Shirky does not consider that social action online will replace 
institutions, but that the imbalance of power between institutions and 
distributed groups is being adjusted. (page 39)

The internationalised nature of cloud computing raises issues of 
jurisdiction over access to and protection of personal data. For national 
rules to be enforceable, ‘… at some point, cloud providers may find 
themselves compelled to build data centres in every country they do 
business … ’ (page 40)


Cheers,
Stephen